The night of the firm Christmas party, it actually snows, which is rare for December in Albuquerque. Boyd and I are bundled up in our winter jackets and I hold onto his arm as we walk into the party.

It’s already in full swing by the time we arrive fashionably late, with “Jingle Bell Rock” blasting, and then Erin runs up to me, handing me a cocktail. “Drink up,” she says.

Once she sees my eyes pop open, she adds, “They don’t card.”

I down the drink, loving the way it burns in my stomach. All the office couples are here: Asher and Madilyn, Cameron and Ruby, Damien and Katie, Garrett and Carolina, and of course Erin and Jameson. Those who have kids have left them with sitters for a fun night out.

“This is an awesome party,” I whisper into Boyd’s ear. He squeezes my arm, to let me know he agrees.

Erin and I drink another cocktail while Madilyn tells all about the joys of pregnancy and motherhood. “Silent Night” begins to play, and Boyd and I sway together in a slow dance.

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.

We rock together to the music and I can’t help but think of the decorated halls of St. Benedict’s, where I will probably never set foot again. I’m still upset that everything I thought I had was an illusion, but at least I have Boyd’s love to see me through. I think I’m finally finding my own way now, with his help, and relying on no one but the two of us and our trusted circle, which includes many of the people in this very room.

Pastor John called and tried to get me to come back but I told him what had happened with Andrew. He’d said he didn’t condone that and had thought Andrew was a man of the Lord. He said I am welcome there and he will make sure that Andrew isn’t.

While I appreciate it, I don’t think church was ever really my thing. I told him I would see him when I’m helping out at the mission and that I’d drop by sometimes to say hi but other than that, I think it is time for me to go my own way. He seemed to understand, as best as he could.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” begins playing next, and my friends come back over with antlers. We put them on and start a congo line, laughing as we kick up our heels, with even Claude joining in.

“You look so good in your red dress,” Boyd says as I leave the line and take my spot by him again. I need a kiss from him, and he gives me one.

Finally, a loud clanging sound can be heard.

“Listen up,” Monique says, ringing a big pair of jingle bells. “I’d like to propose a toast. To a very successful merger, to all the lawyers who make the firm what it is, and to all the staff who help make it great.”

“Here, here,” Asher calls out, and everyone’s glasses make a “clinging” sound as we knock them together. Boyd pulls me in for a kiss.

“I love you, my good girl,” he says into my ear.

“I love you too, Boss.”

“Here’s to a successful end to 2017 and to the bright future that awaits us in 2018,” Madilyn says, beaming her bright, beautiful smile.

We all toast again and I’m wondering whether we should call it a night. I’m looking forward to my personal Santa Claus taking me home and putting me over his lap. But suddenly Boyd walks over to where Monique is, which is in the middle of the crowd of co-workers.

“Can I have your attention, please?” he asks.

Everyone oooh’s and awwww’s, even though no one knows what he’s going to say. My cheeks flush, wondering if it’s going to be something about me.

“As many of you know, I’ve become smitten with my legal assistant Grace,” he says.

Oh, my God. How embarrassing. But how touching.

“Yeah, we know,” Cameron calls out, rolling his eyes.

“You never let us forget,” Asher taunts.

“That’s the way things seem to go here at Marks and Sanchez,” Tim calls out.

“Sugar Daddy Central,” Ruby and Katie sing out in unison, their arms around each other. But they’re smiling at me, as are Carolina and Erin and Madilyn and Claude and apparently everyone else in the room.

“So, I wanted to get a Christmas present for her, and I thought now would be as good a time as any to do it, since the firm helped out with it.”

“Ooooh,” comes a chorus of voices.

I have no idea what he could mean. But suddenly Monique comes out of a back room I hadn’t even realized she’d disappeared to, carrying a large cardboard check.

I squint to make out what it says.

$500,000. To St. Benedict’s Mission–The Foster Home Fund.

I blink, not sure I can believe it.

“Really?” I ask. “This is for the mission?”

I run up to Boyd and throw my arms around his strong waist.

“Really,” he says, bending down to kiss me. “And it’s for you, of course. Because I know how much that place means to you.”

“Oh my God, thank you!” I say, jumping up and down. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Everyone claps, and Boyd calls out, “It’s from the entire firm. All the partners contributed.”

“Thank you, Asher, Madilyn. Ruby, Ron…” I look around the room, trying to thank everyone, until people start waving their hands at me and saying not to worry about it and to just enjoy the gift.

Boyd gives me a deep, passionate kiss. “I’m so glad you like your big present,” he says.

“I do!”

“Good,” he says. “Because I have a small one for you too. And I think it will eventually make you say that phrase again.”

“What?” I ask, confused.

But before I realize what’s happening, he’s down on one knee, holding up a little blue box.

“Boyd? Really?” I ask, even more astonished than the first time around. Everyone claps and jumps up and down, as incredulous as I am. I think this part is a complete surprise to everyone, including me of course.

“Yes, really,” he says, laughing. “What do you say?”

“I say, yes, Boss!” I call out, jumping up into his arms.

“Wooooo!” someone calls out loud and strong, and in the corner of my eyes I see that it was Madilyn, who is right now being kissed by Asher. The original boss and employee couple at this firm—the first girl here to ever say “Yes, Boss” to a man who would later become her husband here—are really happy for us. And I’m happy for us, too.

Boyd spins me around as “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” begins to blare from the speakers. Its happy tone is so much more festive than the somber “Silent Night” although I love both songs.

I look down at the shiny, large diamond ring that Boyd has taken out of the box, before he puts it on my finger.

“It’s beautiful,” I tell him.

“Good, because so are you.”

He kisses me again and then sets me down. “Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“Merry Christmas, Boyd! Merry Christmas, Grace!” our co-workers and friends call out.

“And now,” he whispers into my ear, “I need to take my fiancée to my house. I believe you’ll be moving in with me, right?”

“Of course,” I tell him, excited for our future together. Like he said before, I know we’re moving fast, but it feels right. In fact, my life has never felt better than it does this Christmas season. I hope that if my mom was wrong and there is a heaven up there, that she is looking down on me, proud of what I became despite the struggles she endured.

I know no one would choose to live or die the way that she did, and that in my heart she’ll forever be the mom who rocked me when I was a baby, before anything bad had ever happened to me, but also before all this good stuff with Boyd and my job here at the firm had ever happened, either. I send a silent Christmas prayer up to her, letting her know I forgive her, and that I’m okay. Boyd and I are more than okay. And we will make sure we can do everything possible to help the other foster kids at the mission.

“Good, let’s go” Boyd says, beaming that confident, charming smile. “Because we need to christen the bed, as fiancé and fiancée.”

“Only the bed?” I ask, with a laugh.

“No, that’s just first,” he says. “And then the kitchen counter. And the kitchen table. And the couch. And the floor.”

“And under the Christmas tree,” I chime in, as I hug Erin, who has already gotten my coat and hands it to me.

“Merry Christmas,” she says, “I knew good things would happen to you working here. They always do, for us former church girls.”

I laugh and tell her Merry Christmas one last time, and then Madilyn, Katie, Ruby and Carolina echo, “Merry Christmas, dear friend. Congratulations!”

“We definitely have to christen the Christmas tree,” Boyd, my boss and now my fiancé, agrees. “Because you’re the only gift I want to unwrap underneath it.”

 

 

 

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If you haven’t read all the other books in my Boss series, click here to read the . It contains stories 1 through 4, which tell the story of Madilyn and Asher, Ruby and Cameron, Damien and Katie and a bonus novella.

 

Or , which tells Carolina and Garrett’s story (book # 5) or click here to read , which tells Erin and Jameson’s story (book # 6).

 

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Subscribe to and receive your , in which they christen their Christmas tree. Thanks again and Merry Christmas from , author of .